Master Index of Archived Threads


Memories of Josh Smoker

G-Fafif Jan 31 2018 08:28 PM

Made his debut the night the Mets bottomed out in San Francisco in August 2016 and was part of the immediately subsequent turnaround that led to the unlikely Wild Card that looks like more of an immense accomplishment every day. The starter-depleted Mets were bullpenning without realizing it, with Smoker entrusted with getting outs that were big (because no out is small in a playoff chase). He backed up Gsellman the night the long-haired stranger took over for the evaporating Jon Niese in St. Louis, a game that ultimately equaled the one-game difference between us and them. Pitched in against Minnesota when the starter was Gabriel Ynoa and we swept that series. Seemed like a Josh upgrade over Edgin. I guess he didn't take the necessary step up in 2017 to impress the new brain trust once it got through looking at the tape. Bon voyage Black Bear!

Edgy MD Jan 31 2018 09:45 PM Re: Memories of Josh Smoker

Joins Vic Black and Jack Leathersich is the club of BULLPENNERS WHO HAVE BADASS CLOSER NAMES BUT NO. He now joins The Leather Rocket in the Pirates pen, and of course, Black debuted with the Pirates, so the Bucs know a name when they hear one. Was a broken-down former first round draft choice, toiling in the indy leagues and had taken to cold calling team after team looking for tryouts, getting no bites until a Mets' bird-dog caught a bullpen session with him and recommended him. Good job making something of nothing, Mets. Very indicative of what kind of season it was that Smoker threw mopup appearances of 2.2, 3.0, 3.0, and 4.0 innings as the year progressed. He unsurprisingly hit the DL after that last one, but he went down, stretched himself out during his rehab stint, and came back with a much stronger slider which gave him a much better second half, going 15 straight appearances from August 11 to September 10 without giving up an earned run. A month! Helped keep the Mets out of the cellar.

Zvon Jan 31 2018 09:52 PM Re: Memories of Josh Smoker

He was able to leap over locomotives in a single bound.... [fimg=400:1ua9kgso]https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/LTES5wBZhcIR0U8OTCAjaGco8abtNU5cRorUO6KOqYFrqyzGDH9r4NymZgdlQ-XpXDQY9FtQpzPlA-98bz3_boCeDWB1OvnFzVaO_YvWsWhydc6xtfam7E8RrsTsyrTuSRXDnN_5Vkmv4Ktm7p3jyYOEzIbh5tOa5qeyPqkDAobwEKZ59J3YoneT5ZWuRcneCyKe_cyCBvSS2FedVeGsYDBhgrQOAOo7y-PCHMt51W882higtvVbrD8pAMJl51qJ1rQX-D8wlO2Ao2EGrI-6ZKY6KK709_f3SRup9uACVV35fjifOQAiEX-Od32tz-pv9cfvLFYUod5TF7u2HIWzPVrUnfQE1m64h-5xMETYVks6np8K7IUFQ4sUoUSQcmKHFisYmSacm3yZ0ezF_JJzZRTDdH8tTaB0YbJQwmoAVYu2aiuBoW9jW6eO11F60Nx8xLchM9PHPV2-E4YbB3hpp87Sd9JZtRlqMqz3YHEi_mwBz6QMrc8D9QBTctcUr7sQap0Bx3lyu0MXpHe6xQ5v8Xkb9Wikfvi-bVqUCd0ZmRH_jkjthooU4i41ERabErtGel_lpuDhwrsqy2dOgKVQxvBXwDDbTXy0AuHuUvlF=w575-h796-no[/fimg:1ua9kgso]